Mumbai30 Nov 23 1 Traveller Economy
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About Kochi
Kochi is one of the most dynamic cities and the commercial capital of Kerala. The city is constantly bustling while its surrounding remains true to its agricultural roots. Kochi, as a city, plays an essential port to the South-west coast of India. The ports are connected to the Maldives, Lakshadweep Island and many important coastal cities.
Despite having a blend of various seasons, the heat and humidity in the air continue to remain constant. However, that only makes travellers fly to Kochi instead. Not to mention how the gorgeous setting of the city and its impeccable connectivity that allows a traveller to traverse through various terrains.
Best time to visit Kochi
Kochi sees multitudes of seasons and climate all-year-long. Throughout the year, even know specific seasons are set and have been followed, every year, sudden twists in the western forecasts leave the locals in peril. The tropical setting of Kochi and even Kerala it ideal for summers and even winters. In fact, the months from October to February are actually enchanting and the best. The temperatures dawdle between 17 degree Celsius and 33 degree Celsius. Not only is the winter season perfect for backpackers and solo travellers but also couples and newlyweds who wish to go to honeymoon in Mumbai itself.
The months from March to June marks the start of summer in Kochi. The temperatures in Kochi during summer continues to escalate up to 37 degree Celsius. Although it is considered to be a good season to visit the city, it is only because there is less crowd. On off-seasons, tourists avoid visiting places as they fear unpleasant experiences. However, flying to Kochi on off-season might be helpful as people wouldn't have to deal with the excess tourist crowd. Plus, flight tickets to Kochi see some massive price drop. Many airlines also have flight deals to bring down the cost of a ticket to Kochi.
Monsoons in Kochi are exceptional. Even though it is not a peak season for the city as a rain-washed city would not be favourable for tourist activities, many travellers opt for monsoons. The main reason behind choosing monsoon as the best time to catch a flight to Kochi is that the city's lush greenery turns emerald as the backwaters dance under the torrent rains. Booking a hotel in Kochi during this season is also affordable as it is an off-season for hoteliers. The whole sight of the place is enchanting and definitely an unmemorable experience. Kochi experienced monsoon between July to September.
Places to see in Kochi
The gorgeous Arabian sea might border Kochi on one side, and the towering Western Ghats on the other but the melange of the two varied geographies only makes the city alluring. When in Kochi, you should definitely check out some of its famous beaches namely, Veeranpuzha Beach, Cherai Beach, Munambam Beach, Fort Kochi Beach and more. The city also has many pristine churches that should be visited. These are St Francis Church, Santa Cruz Basilican and the Paradesi Synagogue.
Besides these attractions, Kochi also has museums like Indo-Portuguese Museum, Ginger House Museum Hotel, Folklore Museum, and more than would enlighten you about their cultural heritage, their history and more. Not just the beaches but you should also check out what the lush green valleys close to Kochi have to offer. You can witness the Athirapally Falls and the Areekkal Falls. More than anything, you can visit the famous Lulu Shopping Mall too, which is right there in the city centre. You can further continue the pilgrimage by visiting temples such as Shiva Temple, Gowreeswara Temple Cherai, Ernakulam Mahadeva Temple, Thrikkakara Temple and more.
Things to do in Kochi
Elephant Training Centre
A little away from the city of Kochi is an adorable retreat for elephants. An Elephant Training centre has been established by the Ernakulam district where the animals are brought together to live in harmony. At the centre, these elephants are bathed and fed properly. The centre takes good care of the elephants and even allows visitors to come over and play with the giant animals. Visit this beautiful place and feel happy in the company of playful elephants who would keep you entertained with their goofiness.
Fort Ayurveda Spa
Kerala's Ayurvedic spas are world-renowned and for all the right reasons. The therapeutic massages and spa treatments actually help rejuvenate the body, mind and soul. Kochi has the Fort Ayurveda Spa, which lives up to the reputation of providing the customers with excellent services. Book an appointment here and let your troubles be washed away by the gentle touch of a masseuse. The experience will be beautiful and certainly have a lasting effect on you.
Kathakali Centre
The classical dance form of Kathakali is enchanting and compelling. The performances usually have a backstory and a theme based on which the whole show is presented. The art would keep you engaged as the eyes of the dancers would hypnotise you. Often these performances express a certain Hindu mythological story.
Snorkelling at Thiruvankullam
Compared to other parts of coastal India, Kochi has extremely beautiful and clean beaches. The shores are just as bright and spotless as is the Arabian sea that touches the coasts. The clean and clear waters of Kochi have enabled snorkelling in the area. You can head to Thiruvankullam and take up the water activity. You will be surprised to see some exquisite marine life that's prevalent just miles away from the city of Kochi.
Backwater tour
Kochi connects to Alleppey, which is the hub of backwaters in Kerala. Although it is a few kilometres far from the main city, Alleppey has a harbour from where you can either choose a houseboat or a shikhara ride to explore the gorgeous backwaters lined by rice paddies.
Food and restaurants
Kochi's lifestyle is heavily inspired or rather influenced by the Portuguese, Dutch and English. This is easily reflected in their way of living, lifestyle and more importantly, their cuisine as well. While they still have their special curry and parotha as the highlight of the state, the landscape of Kerala cuisine has seen quite a lot of transformations. As a coastal city, the cuisine mainly centres around exquisite seafood and Malabari food. As a developed city of India, Kochi manages to sustain the traditional cuisine as it also embraces other cuisines such as Asian, North Indian, Continental and more.
Sky Grill Lounge and Bar, Fort House, Asian Kitchen, The Rice Boat, Dhe Puttu, Fusion Bay are some of the finest restaurants that you will find in Kochi. You might not know this, but Kochi actually has a lot of quaint cafes to cater to the backpacking audience. In the city and close to the coastal area, you will find small joints and ventures that have a hipster vibe and attract the young crowd. It is a known fact that the seafood in Kerala is a delight to the taste buds. The city centre will acquaint you with not just exciting dishes but also taste and flavour that will be unforgettable.
How to reach Kochi (Transportation)
By Air
The Cochin International Airport, located 29 km away from the city centre sees excellent flight connectivity from Kochi to other major cities in India. In fact, the airport also has flights taking international routes from Kochi to Middle Eastern countries. Kochi airport is known to be one of the busiest and crowded airports thanks to the excellent connectivity it has with the other cities in the country as well as internationally. A plethora of flights fly from Kochi to cities such as Mumbai, Bangalore, Delhi, Chennai, Kolkata, Jaipur and more. The city is always on demand and hence, getting good flight deals for Kochi becomes quite challenging. However, with good planning and timing, you might be able to get cheap flight tickets to Kochi and even decent flight deals.
By Rail
Just like the flight connectivity of Kochi with the rest of the major cities in India, even the railway network is strong. There are two railway stations, namely Kochi Railway Station and Ernakulam Junction Station that connect the city with the rest of the country. There are express trains too that travel to Kochi from Mumbai, Delhi and other big cities. Train tickets to Kochi can be booked online as well as physically at the railway station. The city is well-connected within the state too and has bus and railway services to ensure that the city's stature as one of the economically strong and developed places sustains.
By Road
Kochi has impeccable roadway network as well owing to the city being a commercial hub. The city doesn't just contribute to the state's economy but also to the country's and hence, is blessed with strong roadways network. Several buses enter and leave the city from various parts of the country. The neighbouring states of Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, even Goa, have bus facilities that provide services to the city. The Kerala State Run Transport Corporation (KSRTC) travels through several cities, including Kochi. There are options for AC and Non-AC buses that you can choose from for your travel needs.
About Oman Air
Oman Air is the national flag carrier of the Sultanate of Oman. The enterprise came into existence in 1993 and has since been providing services to Oman. The airlines commenced as a regional carrier but soon rose to become the national carrier of Oman. Over the years, the airline has witnessed tremendous growth with respect to its services and flight connectivity. Oman Air's hub is at Muscat International Airport in Muscat, the country's capital. The head office is also located in the city. Oman Air has had quite an eventful history with some of the events not being as smooth as one would expect. With its genesis, the airline first leased a Boeing 737-300 that chartered from Muscat and travelled to Salalah. Later in the year, Oman Air flew its first international route with a flight to Dubai, also a Boeing 737-300. Soon, the operations to reach further away from Middle Eastern countries and cities expanded for Oman Air. The airline started operating flights to Thiruvananthapuram, Kuwait, Karachi, Colombo and more. In 1995, the airlines leased two Airbus A320s to fly to Singapore.
The Omani government re-evaluated the strategies to function Oman Air in 2007. As they introduced new plans to expand their reach, they expressed their desire to enter the long-haul carrier market. Following the same, they launched their long-haul flight services to Bangkok and London, later the same year. Oman Air also ordered about five Airbus A330 aircraft to be delivered in 2009 and eventually locked the deal with three A330-300s and two A330-200s. In 2010, Oman Air also introduced a revolutionary idea of providing telecom and WiFI services on-air on select routes. Oman Air also became the first airline in the world to offer both the connectivity services on air. The following year, Oman Air took home the coveted Gold award for "Airline of the Year" at France's Laurier d'Or du Voyage d'Affaires. The airline has since won several such awards for its exquisite aircraft services and luxe lounge facilities. Some of them include, "Best Airline Staff Service in the Middle East" by Skytrax and "Best Airline in Europe, Middle East and Africa" at the Seven Stars Luxury Lifestyle and Hospitality Awards
The airline has partnered with quite a few carriers in the world. With a view to extending its reach worldwide and receiving recognition globally. Further to help the loyal customers of Oman Air to reach various parts of the world with their exquisite services, they have facilitated partnerships with some airlines. These include their codeshare agreements with Bangkok Airways, Etihad Airways, Gulf Air, Ethiopian Airlines, Kuwait Airways, Lufthansa, Qatar Airways, Royal Jordanian, Saudi Arabian Airlines, Malaysia Airlines, Sri Lankan Airlines, Thai Airways and Turkish Airlines. In fact, if you wish to book an Oman Air flight online, you can find their flights on several of their airline partners' web portals. These include Air Canada, Air Europa, Air France, Asiana Airlines, Bangkok Airways, British Airways, Cathay Pacific Airways, China Airlines, China Southern Airlines, Delta Air Lines, EgyptAir, Etihad Airways, Finnair, Emirates, Ethiopian Airlines, Gulf Air, Kenya Airways, Kuwait Airways, Malindo Air, LOT Polish Airlines, Qatar Airways, Singapore Airlines, Swiss International Air Lines, Turkish Airlines, United Airlines and Vietnam Airlines, to name a few.
Fleet size of Oman Air
As of 2020, Oman Air has a fleet size of 54 aircraft. They are predominantly Airbus and Boeing aircraft along with Embraer 175. Currently, Oman Air has about six new Airbus A330-300s that are powered by Rolls-Royce Trent 700 engines. Further, as part of their Airbus fleet collection, the airline also has accommodated four new Airbus A330-200s with the layout having two cabins, business class and economy class. Apart from these, the airline majorly caters to accommodating Boeing aircraft in its fleet. These include the Dreamliner 787, which is a commercial aircraft. The plane is lighter and only utilizes 20 per cent less fuel compared to its contemporaries. Oman Air is also touted to be the first airline in the Gulf region to introduce and accommodate the new Boeing 737-900 aircraft series. The aircraft is known to have the best layout with a two-class cabin. Currently, Oman Air has two of the said aircraft in its fleet. Along with the 737-900, the airline also has introduced Boeing 737-800 with 18 aircraft being part of the airline's fleet. The airline has reserved a spot for Embraer 175 too. It has four brand new Embraer E-175 aircraft as part of its fleet. The aircraft accommodates about 11 business class and 60 economy class seats. The design and layout of the cabins are quite exquisite and elegant.
Oman Air Baggage Allowance
Oman Air has a standard baggage allowance policy that ensures that the traveller doesn't carry excess weight. Depending on the cabin class or the ticket type that the traveller chooses, the baggage clauses change accordingly. For first-class travellers, the maximum weight that can be carried in the baggage is about 50 kg. They are also allowed to carry about two pieces of baggage along with them for checking. The business class cabin has the same weight allowance as that of the first class. The weight cannot exceed 50 kg and can allow two pieces of baggage. As for the economy class, the airline has allowed up to 30 kg of weight and allows two pieces of baggage. These are checked baggage and the combined weight of the two bags need to sum up to 50 kg and 30 kg. The dimension of the bags needs to be within 158 cm, which includes the width, height and length. The dimension is standard and cannot be altered because the airline's cargo needs to accommodate the same. Also, if there is any excess baggage space that needs to be purchased, you can do the same at the airport. It will mean you will have to pay an extra fee to accommodate new baggage.
Oman Air will accept the baggage and ensure to deliver it to the destination airport without mishandling the baggage. It is recommended that the luggage be packed properly to avoid any complication or damage to the contents of the checked baggage. It is recommended that you carry valuable items such as important travel documents, medication, tickets, jewellery and other items in the hand baggage. There are also some exceptions for certain kind of fragile equipment that you cannot leave in the cargo. Items such as medical equipment, musical instrument, sports equipment and more, can be carried onboard. It will require to go through a security check before it can be carried as part of the hand luggage. If you need to carry extra baggage, it is essential for you to put details of your ticket along with the extra baggage that you need to carry along with you. In case you are travelling with pets, you might not be able to take them with you in the cabin but definitely can be taken as check-in baggage. There are provisions in the cargo where the pets will be kept safely.
Oman AirIn-flight services
Oman Air's in-flight services go in the lines of Islamic dietary laws and restrictions. The airline ensures to cater to the needs of its frequent flyers but at the same time, make sure that the culture and religious beliefs are not hurt. Much of the food and in-flight meals prepared by the airlines is according to Halal guidelines. Special meals on request are also available on the aircraft. Alcohol is also prohibited in Islam culture. Hence, the domestic route flights do not have alcohols served in-flight. However, provisions for alcohol have been made on international route flights, again, with exceptions to Saudi Arabia and Iran. Since Saudi Arabia is a holy country and houses Mecca, Jeddah and Medina, the airline doesn't offer alcohol beverages to these routes. Not to mention how the two countries have also prohibited alcohol and strictly adhere to Islamic law. Oman Air mostly caters to two class cabins, namely, business class and economy class. Much of the in-flight services are equipped with WiFi services and mobile network portability. The airline also has a magazine called Wings of Oman that can be availed at in all classes. They are available in English and Arabic.
Popular routes and top cities for Oman Air
Currently, Oman Air connects to about 50 destinations and operates domestic routes and international routes. The primary hub of the airline is at Muscat. The top cities for Oman Air include Dhaka, Cairo, Munich, Frankfurt, Bangalore, Goa, Kochi, Mumbai, Delhi, Nairobi, Kuwait City, Muscat, Lahore, Moscow, Doha, Jeddah, Medina, Colombo, Zurich, Bangkok, Abu Dhabi, London and Manchester. The airline specifically services the maximum number of aircraft to India by covering 11 destinations.
Why travel by Oman Air?
Oman Air has the best connection with Indian cities and networks to about 11 destinations, including Lucknow, Delhi, Trivandrum, Chennai, Mumbai and more. The airline offers a slew of facilities including web check-in, flight status and Oman Air's flight schedules on their official website. It is easy to book Oman Air flights as the airline is quite popular.
About Cochin Airport
Cochin International Airport is located 25 km away from the city of Kochi, at Nedumbassery, in the state of Kerala. The Cochin Airport is the first airport in the country that has been developed under a public-private partnership (PPP) model. The project is funded by about 10,000 non-resident Indians (NRI) sprawled across 30 countries. The airport is known for its busy status as it is the most active in the state of Kerala. The airport is also the largest in the state. Cochin International Airport provides to ap[proximately 61 per cent of passenger movement. The Cochin Airport is also recognized nationally as the fourth busiest airport, with respect to international traffic and eighth most active overall.
About Cochin Airport Terminals
There are three main terminals at the Cochin International Airport. While two of them cater to the domestic terminal, the third one works as an international airport. Terminal 1 was previously used for international flight activities. However, with the new and improved Terminal 3, the international operations were shifted there. The terminal caters to the domestic airlines and operations and can accommodate 4,000 passengers per hour. There are 56 check-in counters, six private lounges and seven aerobridges with a conveyor belt that transfers baggage of about 12 flights at once. Terminal 2 offers an executive experience with CUTE enabled check-in counters, four self-check-in kiosks and six security gates with a space to handle about 400 passengers at once. The terminal was converted as an executive terminal much recently. The international Terminal 3 came into existence in recent times. Built with the Kerala architecture and influence from the Thrissur Pooram, the terminal boasts exquisite fibre elephants adorned with traditional costumes. There are five entry gates, 84 check-in and 80 immigration counters.
About airport authority
The Cochin International Airport is owned by the public limited company, formally known as Cochin International Airport Limited (CIAL), which is a public-private consortium. The Government of Kerala also holds ownership in the venture with 33.36 per cent stakes. The government is the largest investor in CIAL while various Indian and foreign organizations also have stakes on it. Companies such as BPCL, AAI and Air India have a collective stake of 8.74 per cent. Meanwhile, foreign organizations such as Emke Group from Abu Dhabi, Galfar Group of Oman and Majeed Bukatara Trading of UAE hold 5.42 per cent stake. There are many more players in the venture too such as Federal Bank, Canara Bank and SBT. 38.03 per cent of stake is collectively owned by approximately 10,000 personal investors panned across 29 countries. These are non-resident Indians with stakes in CIAL.
Facilities at the Cochin Airport
Luggage facility: The airport has a slew of services available pertaining to the luggage. There are free luggage trolleys available at the entrance of the airport as well as at regular counters till the check-in. The terminal also allows porterage services where you can avail help from a professional to escort your luggage from one point to another. The porterage services do come for free for senior citizens, expectant mothers, physically disabled individuals, minors and more. It is imperative that you coordinate with the respective airlines to avail the services. Along with porterage and trolleys, the airport also offers baggage wrapping services. You can get your luggage wrapped in plastic to protect them from theft, mishandle and other concerns.
Child care room: The Cochin airport has designated child care centres in the domestic as well as international terminals. This comes in handy for mothers with infants. Women with kids can make use of the room to feed and change diapers. The room also has other provisions of baby products, including toys, to help soothe the child, if needed. The centre is well-sanitized and is maintained perfectly to ensure the hygiene of the space. Mothers must find it safe and healthy.
Information desk: The information desk is available at regular intervals. The space offers all details about the airport, including a map of the airport. The desk provides all the necessary information regarding flights, airlines, boarding gates and other such concerns even if you need to find specific places such as the lost and found and VIP rooms.
Conference halls: One of the major highlights of the Cochin Airport is the conference halls that it has. You can host meetings and other such conventions at the airport. It is excellent and quite convenient as it helps save time for all the parties involved. Business professionals can simply meet at the airport, wrap up the conference or convention and take their flights to return to their cities. It is a convenient setting and hence, is most favoured.
Postal facilities:
Cochin airport has postal facilities as well that work perfectly for the passengers. In case there are some important documents and letters that need to be posted, you can make it happen at the airport. Postal services are available at both the terminals.
Restaurants and cafes: Kochi airport's domestic wing has only a few food establishments in the food court. The international terminal of the airport does have a decent slew of restaurants and food establishments that you will find.
Pre-paid taxi services: From the airport, there are many pre-paid taxi services outside the airport. Outside the airport, the officials have segregated the parking spaces in such a way that specific pillars and lanes are dedicated to taxi cabs. Depending on your bookings, you will be directed to the specific pillar or lane for taxis.
ATMs and Forex: Foreign exchange counters and ATM kiosks are present at regular intervals in the airport.
You can make your currency exchanges and even get a good rate at the airport. You can also withdraw cash at the ATMs to ensure that you have enough money in hand.
Medical facilities: Much like every airport, even Cochin airport has medical services. It is a necessary protocol that needs to be followed by all the airports to have medical facilities. The possibility of a medical emergency is always prevalent at airports.
VIP lounge: The airport has exemplary VIP lounges and guestrooms for special people. Travellers who have first-class tickets or premium memberships at specific airlines will get access to the private lounges or VIP rooms. These lounges and rooms have upscaled luxury services with great hospitality.
Top airlines flying from the Cochin Airport
Cochin International Airport is recognized as one of the largest and busiest airports in the state of Kerala. With an air passenger movement of approximately 61 per cent, the airport easily becomes a busy one in the state. The Cochin International Airport also witnesses tremendous international traffic. As many flights directly fly to Middle Eastern countries from Cochin and witnesses a high demand too, the international traffic is just as busy as the domestic terminal. Cochin International Airport also serves as a base to the operations of the airlines Air India Express. Aside from Air India Express, the airport also sees many other important domestic airlines such as Air Asia India, Air India Express, GoAir, IndiGo, Indian Airlines, SpiceJet and Vistara. There are three passenger terminals with Terminal 3 (international terminal) being the largest terminals in the whole country.
Earlier Terminal 1 served as the international terminal. However, after a massive upgrade that took place and with the genesis of Terminal 3, the international flight activities shifted to the other one. The capacity is also quite good, with over 4,000 passengers per hour. Some of the international airlines that fly from Cochin Airport are Air Arabia, Air Asia, Air India, Air Jazeera, Emirates, Etihad Airways, flydubai, Gulf Air, Kuwait Airways, Malaysia Airlines, Malindo Air, Oman Airways, Qatar Airways, Saudia, Silkair, Singapore Airlines, Srilankan Airlines, Thai AirAsia and Tiger Airways. These airlines majorly cater to the passengers flying in and out of Middle Eastern countries. As the demand for the Middle Eastern countries is very high in the state of Kerala, quite a few airlines have direct flights to those international destinations. Cochin airport houses airlines that directly connect with cities such as Muscat, Kuwait, Doha, Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Sharjah, Riyadh and Jeddah.
How to reach Cochin Airport
There are various ways to reach Cochin International Airport. Buses, taxis and private vehicles can reach you to the Cochin airport without any hassle. There are dedicated buses that travel to the Cochin International Airport. Often many travel to Cochin Airport to reach places such as Alleppey, Munnar and other prominent tourist destinations in Kerala. While the main city does have the main bus stand, there are many bus routes that connect to the airport. These buses have destinations such as Ernakulam, Padma, Thrissur, Fort Kochi, Angamaly, Kaloor and Ernakulam-Vyttil-Thoppumpady, to name a few.
Another famous and favoured way to reach Cochin International Airport is by pre-paid taxis. There are taxi counters available close to the domestic and international terminals. There are booths available within the premise of the airport too from where you can make your taxi bookings. Even outside the airport, there are taxi counters from where you can get your taxis. Ride-sharing services are also available with apps such as Uber and Ola at work. Often many travellers even opt to reach other cities in the Ernakulam district by booking a taxi. To further enhance your trip, the airport also has rental services available. You can make a booking at the taxi counter as well.
